Global Internet Users Reach 5.5 Billion in 2024, ITU Report Highlights Digital Divide

Global Internet Users Reach 5.5 Billion in 2024, ITU Report Highlights Digital Divide

By Fly Cable News

According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Facts and Figures 2024 report, approximately 5.5 billion people worldwide are using the internet in 2024, marking an increase of 227 million users compared to 2023. This reflects a global connectivity rate of 68%, but the report also reveals that around 2.6 billion people, or one-third of the global population, remain offline.

ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin highlighted the significant digital divide, with low-income and least-developed countries facing major challenges in achieving universal connectivity. She emphasized that while digital progress is being made, it is crucial to ensure that all populations, including the most vulnerable, benefit from the opportunities provided by the internet.

The report also outlines the disparities in internet access, with high-income countries having 93% online connectivity, compared to just 27% in low-income countries and 35% in least developed countries (LDCs). Rural areas face even greater challenges, with only 48% of rural populations having internet access, compared to 83% in urban areas.

Other key findings include a gradual narrowing of the gender gap, with 70% of men and 65% of women online globally, and a growing generational divide, with 79% of young people aged 15-24 using the internet. Additionally, while mobile phone ownership is widespread, with over 80% of people globally owning one, there are significant disparities between high-income (95%) and low-income (56%) countries.

The report also notes that 5G coverage reaches 51% of the global population but remains highly uneven, with high-income countries covering 84% of their population, while low-income countries have just 4% coverage. Despite these challenges, mobile broadband usage continues to grow, with high-income countries averaging 16.2 GB per month compared to just 2 GB in low-income nations.

The ITU stresses the importance of accelerating efforts to reduce digital inequalities and ensure that affordable, meaningful internet access is available to all.